Qilla Abdullah: FC seizes haul of weapons

Two suspects rounded up with the cache a day after Chaman incident.

QUETTA:

Frontier Corps (FC) and Levies Forces arrested two suspects and seized a big cache of weapons during an operation in Qila Abdullah on Thursday.

Sources said the explosives and ammunition recovered from the suspects included 224 anti-personnel mines, 30 kg explosive devices,  2 hand grenades, several suicide jackets, time device, 11 prime card switches and 15 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The FC inspector general lauded the performance of his men and said they would continue to make efforts for eradication of terrorism and anti-social activities.

This operation took place a day after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden jacket at Bab-e-Dosti at Pak-Afghan border on Wednesday.

After the incident in which at least 7 people lost their lives, the Pak-Afghan Border at Chaman remained closed for a second consecutive day.

According to sources, the FC’s patrolling of the Quetta-Chaman Highway came to a halt due to non-availability of fuel. The petrol pumps in Balochistan had gone on strike to protest against the raids by Pakistan Customs on allegations of selling smuggled petrol.

However Balochistan Petroleum Association decided late on Thursday night to end its strike after its successful negotiation with the provincial government.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.